Overlooking millions saved for billions

The following editorial appeared in the (Decatur) Herald & Review on Jan. 25:

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(MCT) — State Rep. Bill Mitchell has the right idea about selling or grounding the state’s air fleet.

It’s unlikely that it will happen or even get much consideration, but Mitchell’s idea is one of hundreds the state should consider to extract itself from a huge budget hole.

The state operates a fleet of 16 aircraft: 13 small passenger planes and three helicopters. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the state planned to spend $7 million on the fleet during the 2012 fiscal year, about $1 million more than the previous year.

“We have the largest air fleet of all of the 50 states … and yet, it’s still running, bringing bureaucrats, state legislators and the governor mainly from Chicago to Springfield and all around the state,” said Mitchell, R-Forsyth.

He said other states have grounded their aircraft, citing New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, who announced last week that she was reducing the state’s fleet from eight planes to three.

The planes are used a lot to ferry state officials and employees back and forth from Chicago to Springfield. Gov. Pat Quinn and many of the state’s top politicians live in Chicago and spend the majority of their time at offices in Chicago. But the state capital is in Springfield. There aren’t many jobs in which employees are given free transportation to and from work.

The legislation, House Bill 4019, is unlikely to see much success in the Democrat-controlled House. “I’m sometimes not so confident,” Mitchell said, when asked about the bill’s chances. “I’m hopeful that maybe we have public pressure. We could do it voluntarily. You don’t need legislation.”

Even if the entire fleet were grounded, saving $7 million, the effect on the overall state budget wouldn’t be overwhelming.

But that’s primarily the reason Illinois is in such a budget mess. No one in Springfield looks at the myriad ways to save a few million dollars and reduce the state’s overall spending.

The state may be able to justify a few aircraft. But a fleet of 16 is excessive. Anyone with a little common sense can see that.